Wire Frame Fender Hook for Yachts

ABSTRACT

A fender hook created from a single continuous rigid metal wire that is formed to create a fender hook frame with rail hook, integrated mounting eyelets and an integrated fairlead. The wire frame fender hook provides an easy and convenient method to suspend objects such as from a yacht railing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein pertains to marine accessories generally and particularly pertains to a fender hook constructed of a rigid wire frame for attachment of a rope to securely hold a boat fender alongside a nautical vessel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

When an object, such as boat fender, is suspended by a rope attached to a yacht railing, guard rail, guard wires, etc., it is usual to tie a rope at a length to suspend the object at the desired height. In many cases, it is necessary to adjust the rope length with many attempts to tie the rope such that the object is suspended at exactly the desired height. For some purposes, it may be desired to adjust the length of rope between the object and the knotted rope quite frequently.

One example of a situation where frequent adjustments of height are required is that of boat fenders. Boat fenders are used to protect the hulls of yachts from damage caused by contacting other boats or docks. Boat fenders are often suspended from a horizontal rail of a yacht and positioned along the yacht sides to protect the yacht hull from damage when approaching a dock or other structure. Frequently the boat fenders will be untied and brought inboard when not required for use, then redeployed as needed.

Fender hooks simplify the attachment of the ropes to the yacht rail, such that the user can relocate the fender hook laterally along the rail or easily adjust the boat fender line length by means of attachment to the fender hook rope cleat.

Current fender hook solutions comprise metal sheets that are cut and formed into curved shapes whereby cleat mechanisms, bails, and fairleads are affixed to the bracket with fasteners. These metal fender hook assembles are typically coated with non-marking polymer or wrapped with protective fabrics, such as leather, sheep skin or fabric webbing.

Once mounted on a yacht rail, current fender hook solutions require an anti-detachment mechanism to prevent the fender hook from detaching from the yacht rail, such as by using locking pins or re-closeable fasteners.

The current fender hook solutions noted above are costly to produce due to the multiple parts needed and the added cost of assembly labor time required to facilitate a completed assembly.

The objective of this invention is to create a lower cost to manufacture fender hook comprised of a single continuous rigid wire fender hook frame with an integrated fairlead and mounting eyelets for attachment of a rope cleat and with a hook geometry that creates an anti-detaching arrangement where-by the fender hook is retained from dislodging from the yacht rail when a rope is installed.

The novel use of a single continuous rigid metal wire as the fender hook frame, with integral fairlead and mounting eyelets, reduces the cost of manufacturing due to less labor time needed for assembly and reduces the number of mechanisms needed to complete the assembly. The geometry of the wire frame creates a novel anti-detaching arrangement when the rope is normally threaded through the fairlead and secured to the fender hook rope cleat with fender at opposite end, thus reducing the risk of the fender hook becoming dislodged from a yacht rail during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforesaid and other objectives are realized by providing a fender hook created from a single continuous rigid metal wire that is formed to create a frame with a hook shape, integrated mounting eyelets and an integrated fairlead. The fender hook provides an easy and convenient method to suspend objects from yacht railings.

According to the invention, the fender hook comprises a one piece rigid continuous metal wire formed into a frame with an upper portion configured as a hook shape to wrap around a vessel railing or guard wire, a central portion configured with a plurality of eyelets to affix attachments, and a lower region configured as an integrated fairlead for the attachment line. The wire frame geometry creates an anti-detaching arrangement when the rope is normally threaded through the fairlead and secured to the fender hook rope cleat with fender at opposite end, this reducing the risk of the fender hook becoming dislodged from a yacht railing.

Various other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detailed description is set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a fender hook according to the instant invention;

FIG. 2 pictures a front perspective view of the fender hook of FIG. 1 as removed from the yacht rail;

FIG. 3 depicts a side perspective view of the fender hook of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 demonstrates a front perspective view of the fender hook wire frame of FIG. 2 with preferred mounting eyelets and fairlead;

FIG. 5 demonstrates a side perspective view of the fender hook wire frame of FIG. 2 with preferred mounting eyelets and fairlead;

FIG. 6 depicts a front perspective view of the fender hook wire frame of FIG. 2 with alternative mounting eyelets;

FIG. 7 depicts a front perspective view of the fender hook of FIG. 1 with alternative rope camming cleat attachment;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations.

For a better understanding of the invention and its operation, turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 and 7 illustrate the preferred embodiment of fender hook 10 including the wire frame 11 that serves as the substrate for the protective coating 12 and rope cleat 13′, 13. As demonstrated in FIG. 1, fender hook 10 with the components described above may be assembled and deployed about any substrate to which a user may wish to affix it to, for example railing 14 common around the periphery of nautical vessels. In use, fender hook 10 is positioned on a substrate such as railing 14. A line such as a rope 15 fastened, connected, or otherwise attached to fender 16 passes through integral fairlead 17 and is engaged with rope cleat 13, 13′, thereby securing the position of fender 16 relative to the surface which is being protected by boat fender 16, for example the hull of a nautical vessel (not shown).

As demonstrated in FIG. 2, wire frame 11 is preferably formed from a single continuous rigid metal wire defining a somewhat hook shape with a length of approximately eight inches (20.3 centimeters) and a width of approximately three inches (7.6 centimeters), although other lengths, widths, and shapes are considered within the scope of the instant invention, depending on the specific needs and desires of the ultimate user. A metal wire material in the nature of stainless steel or aluminum, each coated partially or entirely with protective non-marking material 12, is most preferred although such materials are not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the instant invention. The single continuous metal wire is formed into a frame with mounting eyelets 18, 18′ at each terminal end of the wire, which serves as the mounting location for the rope cleat 13, 13′. The shape of the wire frame 11 is purposeful to include an integrated fairlead 17 which creates an anti-detaching arrangement where-by the fender hook 10 is retained from dislodging from the yacht rail 14 or guide wire when rope 15 is installed.

Cleat 13 as shown in FIGS. 1-3 is preferably a biased, single member rotary cam cleat 13 mounted to the wire frame eyelets 18, 18′ and held in place with fastener 19 such as a nut. Cleat 13′ as shown in FIG. 7 is an alternate rope camming cleat whereby a biased two member rotary cam 20 is utilized and fastened to a mounting plate 21 with mounting plate 21 fastened to the wire frame eyelets 18, 18′ and held in place with fastener 19 such as a nut. In use, rope cleat 13, 13′ is biased in a rotational manner, such that when rope 15 is inserted into cleat 13, 13′ and illustrated in FIG. 1, the cleat 13, 13′ frictionally engages the exterior surface of rope 15 due to the downward force from the object weight. In the event the positioning of boat fender 16 need be adjusted, a user may pull rope 15 upwards, overcoming the bias of biasing cleat 13, 13′ releasing the frictional engagement of cleat 13, 13′ from the surface of rope 15 upwards, and permitting the unencumbered passage of rope 15. As the desired position is reached, the user 

I claim:
 1. A fender hook for suspending an object from a yacht or boating vessel railing, comprising a single continuous rigid metal wire formed with an upper portion configured as a hook shape to wrap around a vessel railing, a central portion configured with a plurality of eyelets to affix attachments, a lower region configured as a fairlead for line containment.
 2. A fender hook of claim 1 comprising a biased camming cleat affixed to the eyelets.
 3. A fender hook of claim 1 comprising a jam cleat affixed to the eyelets.
 4. A fender hook of claim 1 comprising a horn cleat affixed to the eyelets.
 5. A fender hook of claim 1 comprising a metal wire with cross sectional diameter not less than 0.10 inch and not greater than 0.50 inch.
 6. A fender hook of claim 1 comprising a resilient non-marking coating covering all or partial surfaces.
 7. A fender hook of claim 1, wherein said rigid continuous wire further comprises stainless steel.
 8. A fender hook of claim 1, wherein said rigid continuous wire further comprises aluminum.
 9. A fender hook of claim 1, wherein said resilient, non-marking coating further comprises a UV resistant polymer coating.
 10. A fender hook for suspending an object from a yacht or boating vessel railing, comprising a single rigid continuous metal wire formed with an upper portion configured as a hook shape to wrap around a vessel railing and a lower region configured with a plurality of eyelets to affix attachments.
 11. A fender hook of claim 10 comprising a biased camming cleat affixed to the eyelets.
 12. A fender hook of claim 10 comprising a jam cleat affixed to the eyelets.
 13. A fender hook of claim 10 comprising a horn cleat affixed to the eyelets.
 14. A fender hook of claim 10 comprising a metal wire with cross sectional diameter not less than 0.10 inch and not greater than 0.50 inch.
 15. A fender hook of claim 10 comprising a resilient non-marking coating covering all or partial surfaces.
 16. A fender hook of claim 10, wherein said rigid continuous wire further comprises stainless steel.
 17. A fender hook of claim 10, wherein said rigid continuous wire further comprises aluminum.
 18. A fender hook of claim 10, wherein said resilient, non-marking coating further comprises a UV resistant polymer coating. 